Salt Lake Metropolis’s Cool Issue Is Rising—and It Begins in These 3 Neighborhoods

Utah’s capital has been related to the Mormon group since its founding in 1847 by the spiritual chief Brigham Younger. The Gothic spires of the Salt Lake Temple nonetheless stand out towards the cluster of recent workplace buildings that make up the skyline, however the temple has been closed for renovations since December 2019. Many of the temple was previously accessible solely to members; when it reopens subsequent yr, it will provide a public open home for the primary time. 

The transformation displays wider adjustments afoot in Salt Lake Metropolis. Youthful adults have been relocating there due to its comparatively reasonably priced actual property, in addition to the outdoor-adventure scene in close by snowboarding and climbing areas like Park Metropolis and Brighton. As of 2024, Utah has the lowest median age of any state within the nation.

This infusion of youthful power and capital has resulted in a burst of creativity. On a current go to, I frolicked within the neighborhoods that greatest mirror this shift.

Downtown

Downtown is the setting for one of many state’s greatest occasions: the Utah Pleasure Competition, which attracts crowds of as much as 50,000 every June. Salt Lake Metropolis has one of many highest concentrations of LGBTQ individuals within the U.S., and three of its seven metropolis council members determine as LGBTQ. For a spot that has lengthy been thought-about conservative, that looks like a sea change. 

However then, says wine and spirits skilled Jim Santangelo, “Salt Lake Metropolis has all the time provided up surprises.” I joined Santangelo’s Whiskey & Historical past strolling tour of Downtown, the place I realized that although the Mormon religion famously preaches abstinence from alcohol, Brigham Younger himself produced a whiskey known as Valley Tan—“for buying and selling and medicinal functions,” in keeping with Santangelo. Our tour ended at White Horse Spirits & Kitchen, the place we tasted regionally made whiskeys and ciders, which had been served with freshly shucked oysters from each the East and West Coasts.

My favourite drink of the day was one other beverage discouraged by the Mormon religion. The celebrated espresso at Caputo’s Market & Deli is roasted by La Barba, which has been in operation since 2012. Caputo’s was based in 1997, and its cabinets mirror the household’s Greek and Italian heritage. House owners Matt and Yelena Caputo import artisan cheeses, tinned fish, and oils straight from Italy. The place has turn into a neighborhood go-to.

The 225-room Asher Adams, Autograph Assortment, which opened final yr in a rigorously restored historic practice depot, is now the best place to remain in Downtown. The constructing’s authentic stained-glass home windows, coved ceilings, and gold detailing all contribute to an environment of early-Twentieth-century splendor.

ninth & ninth and the Maven District

Simply southeast of decrease Downtown lies ninth & ninth, an often-overlooked blip on the Salt Lake Metropolis map. I made a beeline for the Salt & Honey Makers Market, the place cofounders Ashley Collett and Nicole Choules give 250 principally native distributors an area to promote handmade merchandise. I picked up a laser-cut map of town by architect Caitlin Blythe, plus stickers of Collett’s illustrations. (One in all her bestsellers is a rainbow decal, which is sensible, given the store’s location on Harvey Milk Boulevard.) Afterward, I rewarded my efforts with two sorts of pie. At Pizza Nono, I ordered slices dotted with salami and drizzled with native honey; at Pie Combat, simply down the block, I opted for a bit of blueberry-lemon.

Each institutions are close to the “Out of the Blue,” a colourful 23-foot statue of a humpback whale that has turn into a unusual image of the realm since its set up in 2022. Some locals declare the sculpture is accountable for report snowfalls within the state since its arrival.

To the west of ninth & ninth lies the Maven District, a set of 100 companies, most of that are female-owned, unfold throughout 10 buildings. It was established in 2015 by Salt Lake Metropolis native Tessa Arneson and her cofounder, Rocky Donati. Colourful murals, many by ladies artists, greeted me at each flip; one by illustrator Brooke Sensible, depicting ladies lifting one another up, displays the ethos of the district. The Maven is house to retailers, health studios, and eating places. Highlights embody Pantry Merchandise, the place founder Michelle Czarka whips up small-batch, earth-friendly balms and oils, and Regular Ice Cream, which was nominated for Excellent Bakery by the James Beard Basis in 2023 (and was the primary ice cream store ever to obtain a nod within the class). The Maven is constant to develop; final yr, Arneson launched a small group of short-term rental residences.

Granary District 

The road for the all-ages music venue Kilby Court docket snaked across the block once I visited on a Thursday night. The area, which may maintain 200 individuals, hosts up-and-coming artists of all genres. Within the early 2000s, it was a launchpad for acts like Demise Cab for Cutie and Dashboard Confessional; Doja Cat carried out there when she was beginning out in 2018.

The encircling Granary District, one of many oldest neighborhoods in Salt Lake, was as soon as an industrial and manufacturing hub. Right this moment, it’s redefining itself as a playground for younger adults, with breweries, stay music venues, and, as of 2022, the 50-room Evo Resort. The property—the primary of three from the gear model of the identical title—blends seamlessly into the neighborhood, with floor-to-ceiling murals paying homage to close by points of interest, equivalent to Snowbird resort. It’s a part of a posh known as Campus Salt Lake, which incorporates an indoor skate park and a 26,000-square-foot bouldering health club set inside century-old warehouses. There’s additionally an enormous store that provides gear leases for all types of outside sports activities, making it a superb complement to the adventures discovered past town.

A night stroll by way of the district led me to Fisher Brewing Co., which attracts beer fans with its 18 rotating faucets, meals vehicles, and a dog-friendly heated patio with picnic tables. After sipping on Fisher Beer, a traditional pilsner, I headed across the nook to the Woodbine Meals Corridor, the place the colourful graffiti paired effectively with my Korean fried hen. 

Not able to name it an evening, I headed as much as Evo’s rooftop Crown Bar, the place I cozied up across the firepit and toasted with a beer from native brewer Uinta, with town within the foreground and the Wasatch Mountains within the distance. 

A model of this story first appeared within the June 2025 situation of Journey + Leisure underneath the headline “Shaking It Up.”